“It’s all in the swing.” This title of a moderately famous 1994 album by Buddy Emmons applies more to golf than swing music. You may have the best set of golf clubs. You might possess the perfect collection of golf balls. You could be playing on the most ideal golf course for your style. However, none of it would do any good if you do not have a good swing. This is why serious golf players spend hours practicing and perfecting their golf swing. Any player worth their salt would dedicate the pre-season to improving their golf swing. People hire personal coaches and work with them to get the most out of their shots. These coaches often have special facilities and equipment, which allow them to pinpoint even the smallest mistakes in the players’ techniques. However, not everyone can afford such specialized training. So, what’s the solution then? This article will help you come up with the best way to record your golf swings.A great alternative to expensive coaches is to record yourself making swings and analyzing the footage afterward. There are several apps on the market that will help you correct your angles and body postures. You can also choose to send your video to an online coach, who can offer helpful insights and tips. Whatever you choose to do with your footage, one thing is certain. It must be recorded properly so that you can get accurate information from it. 

Why Is It Important?

It is crucial that you get the right elevation, angle and motion speed. Otherwise, the app or person analyzing your shot will be unable to give valuable feedback.

Suppose your video is from a low angle. A coach looking at your video will be unable to tell if your swing plane is correct or not. Therefore, you should keep a few factors in mind to ensure a useful video recording. 

Factors to Consider

Having the correct camera position is very important for obtaining a fruitful footage. There are two aspects that determine how right a camera’s placement is: point of view and elevation.  

Point of View

Technically, you can place the camera anywhere you want. You can put it behind you, to your side or at an angle. However, in order to make the most out of your videos, there are two locations that you should definitely choose.

One is putting the camera behind you so that your body is between the camera and the target. This position is called a down-the-line view.

The second is putting the camera to your side so that your chest is facing the camera. This is the face-on view. 

Each of these two placements provides information regarding a different aspect of your swing. The down-the-line view helps you observe your swing plane. Swing plane is essentially the path along which a golfer swings the club around their body. Improving this aspect of your swing can lead to better direction and optimum flight altitude for your ball. Down-the-line view also lets you see how good your posture is. By making a series of videos from this angle, you can achieve the perfect bend between your upper and lower body. 

The face-on view helps you notice finer aspects of the game such as setup angle and body weight distribution. The setup angle is the angle by which a golfer swings the club. The greater the angle, the farther the golf club goes. The correct setup angle can help you achieve the distance you want out of your ball. Similarly, your body weight distribution determines how much power you put in your shot. An even distribution leads to optimum power. 

By combining insights generated from those two viewpoints, you can make some major improvements to your game. However, placement is not just about the correct viewing angle. The camera’s distance from the subject needs to be correct as well. The rule of thumb is that the frame should show the entire figure of the golfer along with the club at its apex.

Elevation

The correct elevation of your camera depends on what part of your swing you want to focus on. If you wish to improve your angle with the golf ball, it is better to put the camera close to the ground. On the other hand, if you want to adjust your setup angle, put the camera up high.

The most recommended camera elevation by golf coaches is the hand level. Ideally, the camera should be placed such that a straight line extending from the golfer’s hands should cross the lens of the camera. 

Additional Tips

Elevation and position are important, but there are a few other factors that can greatly improve your recording quality. Using a tripod, a high-speed camera, and a golf app can help you get the most out of your videos. 

Tripod

Making hand-held videos or resting your phone camera against a bag just doesn’t do the trick. It results in shaky videos with inconsistent elevations. Invest in a tripod so that you can have a stable video at a suitable elevation. You can also purchase phone camera holders that can be attached to the sticks.

High-Speed Cameras

This type of camera allows you to make slow-motion videos by shooting at high frames per second. These days, your latest iPhone can shoot up to 240 fps, which is sufficient for analysis via golf apps. If you wish for better performance, you can purchase a GoPro or an ActionCam.

Apps

There are several apps on the market that allow you to analyze your golf videos without having to consult a coach. These apps have features such as drawing tools that draw guiding figures for better visualization. Apps like HuddlTechnique and v1 Golf App can help you take your game to the next level. 

One does not need to hire personal coaches or buy expensive equipment to improve their golf game. By following the tips listed out in this article, you can make insightful videos of your swings. Analyzing such a footage will set you on the path of being a great golfer. 

You might also be interested in:​